The Bees (A Band of Bees) I Really Need Love

Ahhh, The Bees. Isle of Wight's finest. They are the gem of a small, generally cold island off the English south coast (and a beautiful island it is, too). This album, Every Step's a Yes, is the follow up to Octopus, Free The Bees and Sunshine Hit Me, three little-known bastions of 60s style "groovy" pop revisited. Yes, very British -- there's no doubt about that.

The Bees, or A Band of Bees as they're known in the States, have always stressed fun as part of their music and don't take themselves too seriously. It's an ethos that's led to some inspired singles in their career (like "A Minha Menina" and "Chicken Payback"), but unfortunately also many comments from harsh music journalists that they are a school band of monkeys armed with xylophones. Every Step's A Yes? Probably not.

From the start of "I Really Need Love," it's clear The Bees haven't changed their laid-back pop formula since Octopus in 2006. Jangly guitars make them sound like The Coral, stretching out over five minutes with new optimism. The hazy "Tired of Loving" and folky "Silver Line" indicate that this is their most summery album yet.

The harmonies are smoother than ever, and as long as the principle of a folkier Magic Numbers doesn't scare you away, there is genuinely fun and loving around every corner.

The one thing missing is that there are fewer catchy hooks on this album; fans and new listeners alike might find it hard to truly get into it without what has traditionally been an important point of access. But nevertheless, the Isle of Wight stalwarts know how to roll a hazy, lazy warm afternoon's melody. Closing with "Gaia," a nod to the latin, jazzier days of 2001's "Sunshine Hit Me," the band put about classical guitars and brass fills. They continue to motivate without ever changing the comforting, treacle sweet whimsy.